Fauda star pays tribute to Jewish Child’s Day

Fauda star Yaakov Zada Daniel has paid tribute to Jewish Child’s Day for supporting the Israeli youth village where he grew up and helping him “become who I am today”.

Zada Daniel, who plays Eli in the Netflix hit show, was in London for the first time to support a fundraising dinner for the leading UK grant giving charity on Tuesday night, which raised £275,000.

All proceeds will go towards “rebuilding young lives” in Israel in buying medical equipment for disabled children who have had to move away from their homes, educational equipment for children with special needs, and providing workshops with social workers, psychologists and therapists, among other activities.

The actor related to hundreds of guests at The London Marriott Hotel in Regent’s Park how his mother died when he was two-years-old, and his father subsequently struggled to look after him and his sisters. The children were accepted into the desert village of Neradim, which looks after vulnerable children across Israel.

Just before his bar mitzvah, Zada Daniel’s father died, leaving him orphaned.

He said: “I think because of Neradim I became who I am today. All the values I have, all the confidence. Children need experience of success, otherwise he cannot develop himself. The village gave this to me in many ways.”

The actor spoke about how he “never takes anything for granted” and has devoted his time to supporting the young people at Neradim today.

He also paid tribute to Nova Festival victim Sigal Itah, 27, who was raised at the youth village.

Other speakers on the night included Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, who spoke about how youth in the UK are “going through a particularly hard time, particularly on campuses.”

He said: “Life is tough right now for Jews in the UK, as it is for many Jewish communities right around the world. But we are resilient and strong and we are getting through it, as difficult as it may be. The finest reflection of our values at this time is through our charitable giving.”

The Chief Rabbi praised JCD for providing “empathy and support”, especially to children affected by the events of October 7, “who already have enormous challenges and trauma, but for whom the current trauma is a huge ordeal.”

In a special pre-recorded message, Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy described recent months as “one long living nightmare, and that’s especially true for children.”

He paid tribute to young people who had been injured, who had been kidnapped – including remaining hostages Kfir and Ariel Bibas – and whose fathers have been called up to keep their people and their families safe from the monsters who perpetrated the October 7 attacks.”

Levy added he had been “awed and inspired by the diaspora awakening” of recent times and praised support provided to Israel by charities like JCD.